Hillary Rodham Clinton for Secretary of State - thoughts?

[RU OX Alum]

I think there are better qualified individuals, but since cabinet appointments are more about partisan politics than with actually finding the best qualified person for the role, I'd say that Kevin is pretty much dead on.

[a.e.B.O.T.]

Its official, Clinton got it... Obama Biden Pelosi and Byrd better watch their backs, because Clinton does whatever it takes to be the pres...

[RU OX Alum]

whose Byrd? did the chain of command change again?

[honeychile]

I think the only thing that Byrd has to worry about is Father Time. President> Vice President> Speaker of the House> Secretary of State.

I agree with the other dissenters who have posted, but I also feel that the post should be held by a man. Yeah, I know that's not a popular opinion, but our SoS should be able to speak to and be respected by foreign leaders of all religions.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I think the only thing that Byrd has to worry about is Father Time. President> Vice President> Speaker of the House> President pro tempore> Secretary of State.

I agree with the other dissenters who have posted, but I also feel that the post should be held by a man. Yeah, I know that's not a popular opinion, but our SoS should be able to speak to and be respected by foreign leaders of all religions.

Corrected.

[PhiGam]

I hate Bill Richardson and can't believe that there are people on this board who still like him after stabbing the Clintons in the back. I like Hillary more than almost any other democrat because I feel that she is very experienced and capable, something that Obama will need.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

whose Byrd? did the chain of command change again?

Nevermind, I figured it out.

[a.e.B.O.T.]

Well, this will make her the democratic shoe-in for 2016, of course, she will be 69 by then... I am worried that if that is her aims, that she will do whatever it is in her power to make sure that this administration goes her way, so that the democrats are in favor in that year. This makes me nervous.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by a.e.B.O.T.

Well, this will make her the democratic shoe-in for 2016, of course, she will be 69 by then... I am worried that if that is her aims, that she will do whatever it is in her power to make sure that this administration goes her way, so that the democrats are in favor in that year. This makes me nervous.

yeah...i don't think she'll do a good job

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by a.e.B.O.T.

Well, this will make her the democratic shoe-in for 2016, of course, she will be 69 by then... I am worried that if that is her aims, that she will do whatever it is in her power to make sure that this administration goes her way, so that the democrats are in favor in that year. This makes me nervous.

Wait, what?

First off, she'll have little to no power to shape "this administration" . . . wow. Second, instead of making it go "her way" she should likely ensure that it is popular, to prevent the kind of mid-term meltdown that happened while her husband is in office. That doesn't mean any sort of self-serving motive, but rather a likely willingness to play ball as long as the Obama administration doesn't falter horrifically.

Also, most sources think there is very little chance she'll run in 2016 (or 2012 or 2020 or whatever) after the stress of this campaign.

I mean . . . if you have a substantive policy issue, I can see being nervous, but she's fairly well qualified and gives a completely different angle than most SOS nominees (she's not from a military background; her heavy support of international woman's rights movements).

I'll even give you a hint: her beliefs on Iraq don't exactly mesh well with Obama's stated stance, not to mention Iran. And even in spite of that, I think this is a relatively inspired pick - and I really don't like HRC all that much.

[LightBulb]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I also feel that the post should be held by a man. Yeah, I know that's not a popular opinion, but our SoS should be able to speak to and be respected by foreign leaders of all religions.

Your political record should be the thing that earns you respect. Leaders of any worth should recognize the value in others of different populations. If we ask non-Christian religious leaders to respect our mostly Christian leaders, why could we not ask male leaders to respect a female one?

It's something that world leaders will have to deal with, whether they like it or not. Please remember that Clinton is not the first female US Secretary of State and that a variety of countries have had female heads of state.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I said this in another thread, but I think Obama is playing by the old adage "keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

Funny you say that because I thought the same thing. Well, I hope she does a great job.

[a.e.B.O.T.]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

?

I mean . . . if you have a substantive policy issue, I can see being nervous, but she's fairly well qualified and gives a completely different angle than most SOS nominees (she's not from a military background; her heavy support of international woman's rights movements).

Umm... She is highly qualified for a lot of positions, I agree, but Secretary of State? I thought it was her foreign affairs jabber is what loss me during the primaries... esp. her retelling of true events that are almost as bad as Palin's Russia experience...

[DGTess]

Originally Posted by a.e.B.O.T.

Umm... She is highly qualified for a lot of positions, I agree, but Secretary of State? I thought it was her foreign affairs jabber is what loss me during the primaries... esp. her retelling of true events that are almost as bad as Palin's Russia experience...

What qualifies her for anything, including Secretary of State? Six years in Senate do not a foreign-policy expert make, by a long shot.

Do we remember the "under sniper fire" story?

Remember, it was Tina Fey who made the Russia comment, and the Africa comment has been shown to be a hoax.

AND, she pilloried Bill Richardson because he dared to let his conscience, rather than party loyalty, be his guide. Mind you, Richardson is another kook, but Her Royal Hillary's treatment of him was atrocious.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I think the only thing that Byrd has to worry about is Father Time. President> Vice President> Speaker of the House> Secretary of State.

I agree with the other dissenters who have posted, but I also feel that the post should be held by a man. Yeah, I know that's not a popular opinion, but our SoS should be able to speak to and be respected by foreign leaders of all religions.

I understand what you are saying and in the short term it may seem reasonable, but basically it rewards the sexism of other nations and perpetuates their bias. If we're ever really in a situation where we believe the sex of the SoS will make a difference in achieving OUR aims, since so far we've had male Presidents, we can handle things at a different level.